The First Dimensional Rift (10)
Fusion Magic List 1,249,291
I quickly scanned the list spread out in my head.
Flying monster... I need anti-air attacks.
From the 2nd Circle to the 7th, countless fusion spells were listed before me. But the ones I could create in my current state were limited.
My mana is almost gone. Complex high-circle fusion is out of the question.
Then the answer was obvious.
Simple, but powerful 2nd Circle fusion magic.
Among them, I narrowed it down to a few: Thunderstorm, which called lightning to conjure a storm; Ice Spear of Freezing, which fused wind and ice; and Wind Chains, which combined wind and earth.
I considered several options, but...
Right now, all I knew was that it was a flying monster. I couldn’t judge which spell would be most effective.
“Could you tell me a little more about the monster? I’ll see what I can come up with.”
“Its features...”
At my request, Roimdel turned to the mage who had brought the report.
“Does the Crown Magic Tower’s message include any detailed information about the monster?”
“Yes, it does.”
The mage unfurled the parchment and began to read.
“Of the three flying monsters, two have been eliminated, but the last one is said to be a huge wyvern with a wingspan of fifty meters. Its entire body is covered in blue scales, and...”
The mage paused briefly, then read the next line.
“It spews blue flames from its mouth. Even Chief Valter’s defensive magic circle melted under that fire...”
“Blue flames?”
Rosa cut in, looking startled.
“That means... it’s far hotter than ordinary flame. At least 3,000 degrees...”
“Continue.”
Roimdel pressed him on.
“And it’s said to be extremely fast and agile. Chief Valter’s offensive spells can barely land on it...”
“...Then how on earth is Valter keeping that thing contained?”
“Well...”
The mage lowered his eyes back to the parchment.
“Chief Valter divided the Crown Magic Tower mages into multiple teams and stationed them around the monster. When it tries to attack one side, they fire spells from the opposite side to draw its attention away...”
The mage took a breath and went on.
“Fortunately, the monster doesn’t seem very intelligent, so it keeps changing direction toward whoever is attacking it. They’re using that to lure it as far away from the tower as possible...”
“That’s only buying time.”
Roimdel said grimly.
“The mages’ mana has limits, and the monster may learn. Sooner or later...”
“That’s why they need support.”
“...Grace, are you really going?”
“Yes.”
I answered without the slightest hesitation.
“Before that, I need more information about the monster. What about its defenses? 3,000-degree flames... incredible agility...”
“As for its defense...”
The mage checked another part of the parchment and said,
“The good news is that its defenses are said to be relatively weak. Chief Valter’s 4th Circle offensive spell managed to wound its scales...”
“Then why hasn’t it been killed yet? Ah. It can’t be hit.”
Roimdel asked in confusion.
“Yes. Exactly. It’s so agile that striking it is difficult. While Chief Valter launched more than twenty attacks, only three actually landed...”
“I see.”
Roimdel nodded, and I began organizing the monster’s traits in my head, calculating my options.
High mobility, powerful fire attacks, low defense...
There were two ways to handle it.
Either block its dodging with an area attack, or restrict its movement altogether.
Area attacks consume too much mana. In my current condition...
Then there was only one answer.
A fusion spell that could immobilize it.
Wind Chains.
2nd Circle Fusion Magic
Wind Chains - Incomplete
Wind + Earth
Expected Power: 15
Effect: Restricts the target's movement for 3 seconds
Three seconds...
Short, but enough. Three seconds would be more than enough for Chief Valter to land a decisive blow.
“I’ve got it.”
The moment I spoke, everyone’s attention focused on me.
“A spell called Wind Chains, fusing wind and earth. It can restrain the target’s movements for a short time.”
“A restraint spell?”
Roimdel looked intrigued.
“Yes. We pin the monster down with it, then let Chief Valter finish it off with a spell.”
“...The Crown Magic Tower has restraint spells too. Do you really think they’d be foolish enough not to use them? They must have failed. Restraint magic is effective when the target is still or slow. Against something as fast as that monster...”
“Hmm...”
Hearing Roimdel’s words, I fell silent and thought.
Wind Chains was still a single-target restraint spell.
Roimdel had a point.
But... I had already delayed too much just thinking through the strategy.
“I’m sorry for Valter, but if we go with no alternative, that’s just the same as going there to die together. It would be far more effective to stay here and come up with a plan. Turn Wind Chains into a magic circle and prepare for when that monster comes.”
“...No. I’m still going.”
I shook my head.
“...”
At my unwavering resolve, Roimdel only looked at me in silence.
“I’ll think of a way on the road. But I need supplies. The materials for the magic circle, and the materials that go into the fusion spells.”
Roimdel was silent for a moment before letting out a deep sigh.
“...Very well. I can’t stop you.”
He turned to the mage beside him.
“Open the storeroom. Prepare every material Master Grace needs.”
“Yes, Chief!”
The mage hurried out of the meeting room.
I gathered the materials and stepped out through the main gate of Vilheim Magic Tower.
“Tower Master!”
Lia hurried over. Behind her, Alberte, Carlos, and Sophia also came rushing in.
“I’m coming with you!”
“Me too!”
“I’m going as well.”
“I... I’ll go too.”
One by one, my disciples spoke up.
But I shook my head.
“No. You’re staying here.”
“But Tower Master!”
Lia said urgently.
“It’s too dangerous for you to go alone! Even earlier, when we created the magic circle together, it succeeded because we were all there!”
“Lia is right.”
Alberte spoke with a serious expression.
“We succeeded because we worked together. We’ve already proven that we can be of real help in battle against the Crystal Golem. Let us come with you. Please let us.”
“No.”
I shook my head firmly.
“This is different. The Crystal Golem was slow, but that flying monster is fast. The situation could change in an instant.”
“But...”
“And you’re already exhausted.”
I looked at each of them in turn as I continued.
“Alberte, you’ve already spent more than half your mana building the magic circle. Sophia, you need recovery time after the mana backlash. Carlos, the same goes for you.”
“But that’s true for you too, Tower Master!” Sophia protested.
“No. You’re staying here and helping restore Vilheim Magic Tower.”
I cut her off.
“Chief Roimdel is tired too, and there are plenty of injured people. You’ll be of more help here.”
“...”
“...”
At my firm words, my disciples lowered their heads.
“What’s with those faces? You look like I’m never coming back. I said I’d return, didn’t I?”
“...Yes. Tower Master, please come back safely.”
Lia said, her eyes shining with tears.
“Of course.”
I forced a smile and patted their shoulders.
Roimdel came out.
“Grace...”
“Yes. I’ll be back.”
“Be careful.”
That was all.
“Yes. I’ll be back.”
The high-speed carriage from Vilheim Magic Tower was already waiting.
The driver opened the door for me.
“Tower Master...”
Lia called to me one last time.
“Please, please come back.”
“I will. I promise.”
Once I climbed into the carriage, the door shut behind me. Through the window, I could still see my disciples’ worried faces.
“Depart!”
At the driver’s shout, the carriage began to move.
***
Vilheim Magic Tower and Crown Magic Tower were among the five Great Towers, and relatively close to each other, but even so, the journey by carriage took more than a full day.
The dimensional rift had knocked out every warp gate.
If not for the high-speed carriage, it would have taken several days.
Inside the carriage, I settled in.
First, I need to recover my mana.
I closed my eyes and entered meditation.
About thirty minutes later, I felt my mana had recovered somewhat and opened my eyes.
Now I need to create the fusion spells.
First, I opened the box strapped to one side of the carriage. Inside were the high-grade materials Roimdel had prepared.
Feathers from a wind spirit, fragments of earthstone, firestones, ice crystals, and more...
Let’s start with Wind Chains.
I took out a wind spirit feather and an earthstone fragment and placed them in my hands.
I drew in a deep breath and raised my mana. In my right hand, I gathered wind mana; in my left, earth mana.
Fusion success rate +30%
The two forms of mana began to blend naturally. Thanks to the trait’s correction, the unstable fusion point quickly found its balance.
Whoooosh——
In less than five minutes, the first Wind Chains bead was complete.
Wind Chains alone might not be enough.
If the monster was as fast as they said, I had to account for the possibility that the restraint would fail.
I need a backup spell too.
Until we arrived, I continued creating various fusion spells while recovering my mana.
By the time half a day had passed...
A strange cry rang out from far away.
Kiiiiiiiiii———
The flying monster Chief Valter had described.
It was here.